California note
Larkspur's old downtown still carries the town's early shape
Larkspur's Magnolia Avenue, City Hall, historic district, ferry landing, and brick kiln give the Marin town several easy history stops.
Larkspur is small, but its old downtown gives you a lot to notice in one walk. Charles W. Wright laid out the town in 1887, the first post office opened in 1891, and Larkspur incorporated in 1908.
City Hall is one of the anchors. The Mission Revival building on Magnolia Avenue was designed by Charles O. Claussen, built in 1913, and became part of the downtown historic district. That district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The town also has a ferry-side layer. Larkspur Landing became the main Golden Gate Ferry terminal in Larkspur, and the nearby Remillard brick kiln is a state historical landmark. The kiln connects the area to the brick company that helped supply rebuilding after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
That is why Larkspur works well as a walking-history town. Magnolia Avenue, old storefronts, City Hall, the ferry, and the brick kiln all show different parts of the same Marin story.
Where to see it
Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur City Hall, downtown Larkspur, and the brick kiln near Larkspur Landing.
Sources
Sources for this story
Reviewed July 7, 2026
Public sources for the places, events, and details above.
Connected places
Open the local directory
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